frederick the great and his family-第114章

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blood；　would　find　it　impossible　to　show　mercy　to　his　fellow…man。　Is　hunting　a　proper　employment　for　a　thinking　creature？　A　gentleman　who　hunts　can　only　be　forgiven　if　he　does　so　rarely；　and　then　to　distract　his　thoughts　from　sad　and　earnest　business　matters。　It　would　be　wrong　to　deny　sovereigns　all　relaxation；　but　is　there　a　greater　pleasure　for　a　monarch　than　to　rule　well；　to　enrich　his　state；　and　to　advance　all　useful　sciences　and　arts？　He　who　requires　other　enjoyments　is　to　be　pitied。〃




CHAPTER　V。

THE　ENGRAVED　CUP。


Princess　Amelia　was　alone　in　her　boudoirshe　was　ever　alone。　She　lay　upon　the　sofa；　gazed　at　the　ceiling；　and　in　utter　despair　reflected　upon　her　miserable　fate。　For　years　she　had　looked　anxiously　forward　to　the　conclusion　of　this　unhappy　war　in　which　Austria　and　Prussia　were　so　fiercely　opposed。　So　long　as　they　were　active　enemies；　Trenck　must　remain　a　prisoner。　But　she　had　said　to　herself；　〃When　peace　is　declared；　the　prisoners　of　war　will　be　released；　and　Maria　Theresa　will　demand　that　her　captain；　Frederick　von　Trenck；　be　set　at　liberty。〃

Peace　had　been　declared　four　months；　and　Trenck　still　lay　in　his　subterranean　cell　at　Magdeburg。　All　Europe　was　freed　from　the　fetters　of　war。　Trenck　alone　was　unpardoned　and　forgotten。　This　thought　made　Amelia　sad　unto　death；　banished　sleep　from　her　couch；　and　made　her　a　restless；　despairing　wanderer　during　the　day。　Amelia　had　no　longer　an　objectthe　last　ray　of　hope　was　extinguished。　Peace　had　been　concluded　and　Trenck　was　forgotten！　God　had　denied　her　the　happiness　of　obtaining　Trenck's　freedom；　He　would　not　even　grant　her　the　consolation　of　seeing　him　released　through　others。　For　nine　years　Trenck　had　languished　in　prisonfor　nine　years　Amelia's　only　thought；　only　desire；　was　to　enable　him　to　escape。　Her　life　was　consecrated　to　this　one　object。　She　thought　not　of　the　gold　she　had　sacrificedshe　had　offered　up　not　only　her　entire　private　fortune；　but　had　made　debts　which　her　income　was　utterly　inadequate　to　meet。　Money　had　no　value　except　as　it　was　consecrated　to　her　one　great　aim。　She　felt　now　that　her　heart　had　been　crushed　and　broken　in　her　useless　efforts…that　her　hopes　were　trampled　in　the　dust；　and　her　existence　worthless。　Peace　had　visited　all　hearts　but　hers　with　new　assurance　of　hope。　It　brought　to　her　nothing　but　despair　and　desolation。　While　all　others　seemed　to　recommence　life　with　fresh　courage　and　confidence；　Amelia　withdrew　to　her　apartments；　brooding　in　dark　discontenthating　all　those　who　laughed　and　were　glad…　spurning　from　her　with　angry　jealousy　the　contented　and　happy。　The　world　was　to　her　a　vast　tomb；　and　she　despised　all　those　who　had　the　mad　and　blasphemous　courage　to　dance　on　its　brink。

Amelia　avenged　herself　on　those　who　avoided　her；　by　pursuing　them　with　spiteful　jests　and　bitter　sarcasm；　hoping　in　this　way　to　be　relieved　wholly　from　their　presence。　She　wished　to　be　alone　and　always　alone。　Her　soul　within　her　was　desolate；　and　the　outward　world　should　take　the　same　dark　hue。　She　lived　like　a　prisoner　secluded　in　her　own　apartments；　and　when　some　great　court　festival　compelled　her　to　appear　in　public；　she　revenged　herself　by　wounding　all　who　approached　her。　The　sufferings　of　others　were　a　balsam　to　her　heart；　and　she　convinced　herself　that　the　pain　she　inflicted　assuaged　her　own　torments。

Amelia　was　alone；　her　maid　of　honor　had　just　read　aloud　one　of　Moliere's　biting；　satirical　comedies；　and　received　leave　of　absence　for　a　few　hours。　The　princess　had　also　dismissed　her　chamberlain　till　dinner；　and　he　had　left　the　castle；　only　two　pages　waited　in　the　anteroom；　which　was　separated　by　two　chambers　from　the　boudoir。　Amelia　had　the　happy　consciousness　of　being　alone　in　her　grief；　and；　fearing　no　disturbance；　she　could　sigh　and　lament　aloud。　She　dared　give　words　to　her　rage　and　her　despair；　there　were　no　other　listeners　than　these　dead；　voiceless　wallsthey　had　been　long　her　only　confidants。　The　stillness　was　suddenly　broken　by　a　gentle　knock　at　the　door；　and　one　of　the　pages　entered。

With　a　frightened　look；　and　begging　earnestly　to　be　pardoned　for　having　dared　to　disturb　the　princess；　he　informed　her　that　a　stranger　was　without；　who　pleaded　eagerly　to　be　admitted。

〃What　does　he　wish？〃　said　Amelia；　roughly。　〃I　have　neither　office　nor　dignity　to　bestow；　and；　at　present；　I　have　no　money！　Tell　him　this；　and　he　will　go　away　cheerfully。〃

〃The　stranger　says　he　is　a　jeweller；　your　highness；〃　said　the　page。　〃It　is　of　great　importance　to　him　that　you　should　look　at　his　collection　of　gems；　and　if　you　will　have　the　goodness　to　purchase　a　few　trifles；　you　will　make　them　the　fashion　in　Berlin；　and　thus　make　his　fortune。〃

〃Tell　him　he　is　a　fool！〃　said　Amelia；　with　a　coarse　laugh；　〃I　have　no　desire　to　see　his　jewels！　Dismiss　him；　and　do　not　dare　disturb　me　again。　Well；　why　do　you　hesitate？　Why　are　you　still　here？〃

〃Ah；　princess；　the　poor　man　begs　so　earnestly　for　admittance；　he　says　your　highness　knew　him　at　Magdeburg；　and　that　the　governor；　the　Landgrave　of　Hesse；　expressly　charged　him　to　show　the　jewels　to　your　highness。〃

These　magical　words　aroused　Amelia　from　her　apathy。　With　a　quick　movement　she　arose　from　the　sofa；　she　was　endowed　with　new　energy　and　vitality；　she　advanced　toward　the　door；　then　paused；　and　looked　silent　and　thoughtful。

〃Admit　the　stranger！〃　said　she；　〃I　will　see　his　treasures。〃

The　page　left　the　room；　and　Amelia　gazed　after　him　breathlessly；　and　with　a　loudly…beating　heart。　It　seemed　to　her　an　eternity　before　the　stranger　entered。

A　tall；　slender　man；　in　simple　but　elegant　costume；　approached。　He　stood　at　the　door；　and　bowed　profoundly　to　the　princess。　Amelia　looked　at　him　steadily；　and　sighed　deeply；　she　did　not　know　this　man。　Again　her　hopes　had　deceived　her。

〃You　said　the　Landgrave　of　Hesse　sent　you　to　me？〃　said　she；　roughly。

〃Yes；　princess；〃　said　the　man；　〃he　commanded　me　to　seek　your　highness　as　soon　as　I　arrived　in　Berlin；　and　show　you　my　collection；　in　order　that　you　might　have　the　privilege　of　selecting　before　all　others。〃

Amelia　looked　once　more　questioningly　and　fiercely　upon　the　stranger；　but　he　remained　cold　and　indifferent。

〃Well；　sir；　show　me　your　gems！〃

He　placed　a　large　casket　upon　a　table　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　he　then　unlocked　it；　and　threw　back　the　lid。　In　the　different　compartments；　splendid　jewels　of　wondrous　beauty　were　to　be　seen　rings；　pins；　bracelets；　and　necklaces　of　rare　workmanship　and　design。

〃Diamonds；〃　cried　Amelia；　contemptuously；　〃nothing　but　diamonds！〃

〃But　diamonds　of　a　strange　fire　and　wondrous　design；〃　said　the　strange　jeweller。　〃Will　not　your　highness　graciously　draw　nearer；　and　observe　them？〃

〃I　have　no　use　for　them：　I　wear　no　diamonds！〃　said　Amelia：　〃if　you　have　nothing　else　to　show　me；　close　the　casket；　I　shall　make　no　purchase。〃

〃I　have；　indeed；　other　and　rarer　treasures；　some　beautiful　carved　work；　by　Cellini；　some　ivory　carving　of　the　middle　ages；　and　a　few　rare　and　costly　cameos。　Perhaps　these　may　please　the　taste　of　your　highness？〃

The　jeweller　raised　the　first　compartment；　and　taking　out　a　number　of　beautiful　and　costly　articles；　he　laid　them　upon　the　table；　explained　the　workmanship　and　design　of　each　piece；　and　called　the　attention　of　the　princess　to　their　wondrous　beauty。

Amelia　listened　carelessly　to　his　words。　These　things　had　no　interest　for　her；　she　looked　only　at　one　objecta　round　packet；　rolled　in　paper；　which　the　stranger　had　taken　with　the　other　articles　from　the　casket；　this　must　be　something　particularly　costly。　It　was　carefully　wrapped　in　silk　paper；　while　every　thing　else　lay　confusedly　together；　and　yet　this　seemed　the　only　treasure　which　the　jeweller　did　not　seem　disposed　to　exhibit。　Amelia；　however；　remarked　that　he　raised　this　mysterious　packet　several　times；　as　if　it　was　in　his　way；　changed　its　place；　but　every　time　brought　it　nearer　to　her。　It　now　lay　immediately　in　front　of　her。

〃What　does　that　paper　contain？〃　said　she。

〃Oh；　that　has　no　interest　for　your　royal　highness；　that　is　a　worthless　object！　Will　you　have　the　goodness　to　examine　this　seal？　It　represents　the　holy　Saint　Michael；　treading　the　dragon　under　his　feet；　and　it　is　one　of　the　most　successful　and　beautiful　works　of　Benvenuto　Cellini。〃

Amelia　did　not　look　at　the　seal；　she　stretched　out　her　hand　toward　the　mysterious　packet；　and　giving　a　searching　look　at　the　jeweller；　she　raised　and　opened　it。

〃A　cup！　a　tin　cup！〃　she　exclaimed；　in　astonishment。

〃As　I　remarked　to　your　highness；　a　worthless　object；　unless　the　rare　beauty　of　the　workmanship　should　give　it　some　value。　The　carving　is　indeed　beautiful　and　most　wonderful；　when　you　know　that　it　was　done　with　a　common　nail；　and　not　even　in　daylight；　but　in　the　gloom　and　darkness　of　a　subterranean　cell。〃

Amelia　trembled　so　violently；　that　the　cup　almost　fell　from　her　hand。　The　stranger　did　not　remark　her　emotion；　but　went　on　quietly。

〃Observe；　your　highness；　how　finely　and　correctly　the　outlines　are　drawn；　it　is　as　artistically　executed　as　the　copperplate　of　a　splendid　engraving。　It　is　greatly　to　be　regretted　that　we　cannot　take　impressions　from　this　tin　cup；　they　would　make　charming　pictures。　The　sketches　are　not　only　well　executed；　but　they　are　thoughtfully　and　pathetically　conceived　and　illustrated　with　beautiful　verses；　which　are　worthy　of　a　place　in　any　album。　If　your　highness　takes　any　interest　in　such　trifles；　I　beg　you　will　take　this　to　the　light　and　examine　it　closely。〃

The　princess　did　not　answer：　she　stepped　to　the　window；　and　turning　her　back　to　the　jeweller；　looked　eagerly　at　the　cup。

It　was；　indeed；　a　masterpiece　of　art　and　industry。　The　surface　was　divided　by　small　and　graceful　arabesques　into　ten　departments；　each　one　of　which　contained　an　enchanting　and　finely…executed　picture。　No　chisel　could　have　drawn　the　lines　more　correctly　or　artistically；　or　produced　a　finer　effect　of　light　and　shade。　Under　each　picture　there　was　a　little　verse　engraved　in　such　fine　characters；　that　they　could　only　be　deciphered　with　difficulty。

Amelia's　eyes　seemed　to　have　recovered　the　strength　and　power　of　earlier　days。　A　youthful；　vigorous　soul　lay　in　the　glance　which　was　fixed　upon　this　cup；　she　understood　every　thing。

There　was　a　cage　with　an　imprisoned　bird；　beneath　this　a　verse：


　　　　　〃Ce　n'est　pas　un　moineau；　　　　　　Garde　dans　cette　cage；　　　　　　C'est　un　de　ces　oiseaux；　　　　　　Qui　chantent　dans　L'orage。　　　　　　Ouvrez；　amis　des　sages；　　　　　　Brisez　fers　et　verroux；　　　　　　Les　chants　dans　vos　bocages；　　　　　　Rejailliront　pour　vous。〃

＇Footnote：　　　　　　〃This　is　not　a　sparrow　　　　　　Kept　in　this　cage。　　　　　　It　is　one　of　those　birds　　　　　　Who　sing　in　storms。　　　　　　Open；　friend　of　the　wise；　　　　　　Break　iron　and　bolts；　　　　　　The　songs　in　your　woods　　　　　　Shall　fly　back　to　you。〃＇

In　the　next　compartment　was　again　a　cage；　containing　a　bird；　and　on　the　branch　of　a　tree　under　which　the　cage　was　placed；　perched　another　bird；　with　fluttering　wings　and　open　beak；　underneath　was　written


　　　　　〃Le　rossignol　cbante；　voici　la　raison；　　　　　　Pourquoi　il　est　pris　pour　chanter　en　prison；　　　　　　Voyez　le　moineau　qui　fait　tant　de　dommage；　　　　　　Jouir　de　la　vie　sans　craindre　la　cage。　　　　　　Voila　un　portrait；　　　　　　Qui　montre　l'effet　　　　　　Du　bonheur　des　fripons　du　desastre　des　sages。〃

＇Footnote：　　　　　　〃The　nightingale　sing